CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Harvard women's basketball will continue the first week of college basketball as it hits the road for a pair of contests against No. 25 Indiana and Quinnipiac.
Beginning with a mid-week top 25 tilt, the Crimson will face the Hoosiers on Thursday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m. in Assembly Hall and on Big 10+. Harvard will then return to the east coast to take on Quinnipiac on Sunday, November 10 at 2:00 p.m. at M&T Bank Arena and on ESPN+.
What to Know
- The Crimson will open its 2024-25 season with 13 non-conference contests before starting its annual 14-game Ivy League slate in January.
- Harvard will play six of its 13 out of conference match ups inside Lavietes Pavilion including its season opener versus UMass-Amherst. The Crimson will also welcome Boston College (Nov. 14), Northeastern (Nov. 19), Rhode Island (Dec. 7), Boston University (Dec. 21), and Delaware (Dec. 30) to Cambridge.
- In its first contest of the season, the Crimson dropped in-state rival, UMass, 71-58, on the back of a strong defensive effort. Harvard posted its most steals since the 2021-22 season with 19, forced 34 total Minutewomen turnover, and recorded eight blocks. 33 of the Crimson 71 points came off of UMass turnovers. The Crimson turnover forced total of 34 ranks eighth nationally after opening night and its steals and blocks total both rank 11th in the country.
- Gabby Anderson had a strong start to her junior campaign to lead the way for the Crimson in the season opener. Anderson posted a career-best 20 points on 7-of-14 shooting from the field and 4-of-7 from distance. Additionally, the Columbus, Ohio native added six rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks all while not committing a foul.
- Elena Rodriguez also started out on the right foot this season, adding 18 points while shooting 80% (8-of-10 FG) from the field, a team-high eight rebounds, three assists, and four steals.
- Ahead of this season, the Crimson were picked to finish third in the Ivy League Preseason Poll, receiving 101 points, including one first-place vote. Harvard trailed only Princeton (122) and Columbia (110).
- Harvard lost just one active senior from last year's squad in Lola Mullaney, returning a league-best 80% of its scoring.
- Additionally, the Crimson added five highly touted first-years in Nina Emnace, Alayna Rocco, Hana Belibi, Lydia Chatira, and Asani Ceasar.
- Of its 10 returning players is Harmoni Turner who is poised for another dominant season. As a junior, Turner led the Crimson in points, assists, and steals, ultimately earning first-team All-Ivy honors for the second straight year. Ahead of this season, Turner was named to the 2025 Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Preseason Watch List.
- Including in its returned is also four of its top five scorers in Turner (19.3), Katie Krupa (11.3), Elena Rodriguez (10.3), and Abigail Wright (6.7) and its three top three rebounds in Rodriguez (163), Turner (143), and Saniyah Glenn-Bello (107).
- Ahead of the 2024-25 season Krupa and Ella Stauffer were elected as team captains by their teammates.
- Carrie Moore's 36 wins in her first two years at the helm marks the most in program history through any coaches' first two seasons.
- The matchup between Harvard and Indiana will be the first in history. While the Crimson have never met the Hoosiers, it will mark the sixth straight season that it has met a Big Ten opponent. Harvard will look to pick up its third ever win against the conference.
- The all-time series with Quinnipiac currently stands even with either team taking four contests. Harvard will look to take the lead in the series and grow its win streak over the Bobcats to three.
Next Up
Harvard will return home next week to take on crosstown foe, Boston College, on Thursday, November 14. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. inside Lavietes Pavilion and on ESPN+.
